Heartbreak Bronco

Heartbreak Bronco by Terri Farley Read Free Book Online Page B

Book: Heartbreak Bronco by Terri Farley Read Free Book Online
Authors: Terri Farley
Crystal that she was a challenge and that’s why she was here. But Brynna probably wouldn’t like that.
    â€œPopcorn is the white horse. The one with blue eyes like Crystal’s,” Brynna began. “He’s tall for a mustang and he was abused. Not on purpose, but his adopters thought the way to teach him to carry a rider was to ‘break’ him, to show him who was boss. They thought horses were born to carry riders and the faster he learned how, the sooner he’d be a happy horse.”
    Amelia drew in a loud breath, then blushed whenall eyes turned to her. “It’s, uh,” she giggled, “sort of like parents who say ‘we’re doing this for your own good.’”
    â€œExactly like that,” Brynna agreed.
    It must have been the approval in Brynna’s tone that made Crystal glare at Amelia. Just the same, Brynna kept talking.
    â€œAnyway, after Popcorn had been shown who was boss one time too many, he became impossible to catch and his adopters returned him to the BLM.
    â€œPenny had a similar experience. She was trained to saddle and then she developed the habit of rearing….”
    As Brynna described the horse, Sam noticed the difference in the girls’ reactions. Crystal fidgeted in boredom, but Amelia leaned forward, listening as if she could picture each incident.
    â€œThey hired a horse trainer, supposedly a professional,” Brynna said. “His solution was to jerk the reins tight and pull Penny over backward each time she reared. He would jump clear, of course.”
    â€œDid that teach her?” Amelia asked, frowning.
    â€œIt hurt her. Badly,” Brynna said.
    Even Crystal was paying attention now.
    â€œWhich one is she?” Crystal asked.
    â€œThe little blind sorrel,” Brynna said.
    â€œBlind? You’re not going to make one of us take her. What can a blind horse do?” Crystal rolled her eyes.
    â€œYou might be surprised.” Brynna’s voice vibrated with anger.
    Sam knew her stepmother loved Penny and had little patience with people who thought the mare was useless because she was blind.
    Brynna went on more quickly after that, as if her patience was waning.
    â€œAnd then there’s Dark Sunshine, the buckskin with the foal,” Brynna said. “She was abused as well—starved, whipped, and used as bait in a trap for other wild horses.”
    Amelia’s pale fingers were interlaced and twitching, but she kept quiet.
    â€œJinx is the new horse. You saw Wyatt unloading him. He’s our mystery mustang, and even though we don’t know much about him yet, he carries his history with him in that freeze brand on his neck.”
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?” Crystal asked.
    Brynna ignored the girl’s impatience.
    â€œThe brand is made up from the Alpha Angle alphabet.” Brynna stopped and her eyes met Sam’s. “It’s code, sort of, and I’ll let you decipher it so you can learn how old he is and where he came from.”
    â€œHe’s kind of a weird color,” Amelia ventured. “What is it?”
    â€œGrulla,” Sam answered.
    â€œA grew-ya?” Amelia asked quietly.
    â€œIn Spanish,” Brynna began, “it means crane—”
    â€œLike machinery or one of those gawky birds?” Crystal asked.
    â€œThe bird,” Brynna said, keeping her voice level. “Probably the blue-gray ones.”
    â€œThey’re a symbol of peace, too,” Sam said. She wasn’t sure why she put that in, except there was something in the neglected horse that looked like it needed a bit of peace.
    â€œWe have another mustang on the ranch, too,” Brynna said. “Sam’s horse Ace. But he’s not part of the HARP program.”
    â€œWhy not?” Crystal asked.
    â€œBecause his adoption, here at River Bend Ranch, has worked out like most. He’s happy to be here and we’re happy to have

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